Aquino, military urged to surface missing activist

Saturday, July 16, 2011
PRESIDENT Benigno Aquino III should assert his role as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) by ordering the military to produce missing activist Jonas Burgos, militant organizations said Friday.
“Only then can decisions of the Court have teeth and effect the lessening of, if not totally ending, impunity,” Karapatan said.
The call came after the Supreme Court on Thursday ordered then Lieutenant Harry Baliaga Jr. and AFP Chief of Staff General Eduardo Oban to produce Burgos, who taught organic farming among peasants in Bulacan.
Baliaga was assigned at the Philippine Army’s 56th Infantry Battalion in Bulacan when the abduction happened last April 28, 2007 in a mall along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City.
Karapatan said the AFP should stop denying responsibility over the disappearance of Burgos in the same way it denied having University of the Philippines (UP) students Sherlyn Cadapan and Karen Empeño in their custody when the Supreme Court (SC) ordered the same last May.
The National Union of People’s Lawyers (NUPL), meanwhile, doubted the President’s political will in cracking the whip on erring military officials and soldiers.
“It is tragically not one of his priorities. Does he tacitly condone these acts? Silence may be construed as acquiescence. But we will not let up,” NUPL secretary general Edre Olalia said in an email to Sun.Star.
In a 25-page resolution penned by Associate Justice Arturo Brion, the SC ordered Court of Appeals Presiding Justice Andres Reyes Jr. to also hear the writ of habeas corpus case at the same CA Division that dismissed the earlier petition of Burgos’ mother Edita.
It noted “significant lapses” in the handling of the investigation by the police and the “defiance” of the military to produce material documents and follow previous court orders.
On the other hand, the court gave weight to a March report by the Commission on Human Rights (CHR), where Baliaga was identified by witnesses in their testimonies as the “principal by direct participation” on the abduction of Burgos.
According to another rights group Desaparecidos, now Major Baliaga can only be liable for kidnapping and not for the crime of enforced disappearance due to lack of enabling law.
Both Karapatan and NUPL urge President Aquino to go after former President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, who was dropped by the courts as a respondent to the case.
“It is hard to believe that GMA is ignorant of these heinous cases of human rights violations that happened when she was the commander-in-chief of the Philippine Armed Forces,” Karapatan said.
The NUPL said it is currently working with Edita on a case to make Arroyo “ultimately accountable for crimes against humanity.”
Karapatan earlier counted 1,000 victims of extra-judicial killings and hundreds of involuntarily disappeared under Arroyo’s nine-year rule. (Virgil Lopez/Sunnex)

Source: http://www.sunstar.com.ph/manila/local-news/2011/07/16/aquino-military-urged-surface-missing-activist-167153

Wine is becoming increasingly popular in Manila and other cities in the Philippines. Wine lovers in Manila travel to the north to visit Clark, Pampanga to shop for good and rate vintage wines at good duty-free prices. The most frequently visited liquor shop in Manila and wine shop in Pampanga is Clark Wine Center. This highly recommended wine shop located outside Manila near Angeles City, Pampanga in North Luzon is known for offering a great selection of fine vintage wine that is good quality and good value for money also.

This well-known wine shop is a famous shopping destination for wine enthusiasts in Manila and wine lovers from other cities in Asia including Hong Kong, Macau, Shanghai, Beijing, Seoul, Osaka and Tokyo.

Famous Philippines wine supplier known for its line of fine vintage wines, Yats Wine Cellars was established in 2000 to address the requirement of a growing population of wine enthusiasts in the Philippines. This 5-star wine shop caters to the discerning client who requires these qualities in their wines: (1) excellent value, (2) large selection of labels and vintages to choose from and (3) wines properly aged for full enjoyment.

Public wine tastings are held from time to time in Clark and sometimes in Manila. Tickets range from p500 to p1500 for these themed events that are professionally run –no wine merchants sponsorship, pushy salesmen or tacky banners to ruin the evening. Each ticket contains a certain number of stubs that can be redeemed for a tasting pour of a wine among those on a line-up which often contains wines that are quite old and expensive.

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3003C East Tower, Philippines Stock Exchange Center (Tektite)
Exchange Road, Ortigas Center, Metro Manila, Philippines
(632) 637-5019 0917-520-4393 ask for Rea or Kristine

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For inquiries and orders, Click here to for inquiries and orders

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If Philippines is part of an upcoming travel and holiday plan, wine lovers might want to visit Clark Freeport Zone just 70 minutes from Manila. This bustling new city that is slated to replace Manila as the new capital of the Philippines has the largest wine shop called Clark Wine Center. For more information, log on to

http://www.ClarkWineCenter.com

Clark Wine Center
Bldg 6460 Clark Observatory Building
Manuel A. Roxas Highway corner A Bonifacio Ave,
Angeles Clark Freeport Zone, Pampanga 2023
0922-870-5173 0917-826-8790 (ask for Ana Fe)

Getting to this wine shop in Pampanga Angeles City Clark Freeport Zone Philippines from Manila
Getting to the Clark Wine Center wine shop from Manila is quite simple: after entering Clark Freeport from Dau and Angeles City, proceed straight along the main highway M A Roxas. Clark Wine Center is the stand-along white building on the right, at the corner A Bonifacio Ave. From the Clark International Airport DMIA, ask the taxi to drive towards the entrance of Clark going to Angeles City. From Mimosa, just proceed towards the exit of Clark and this wine shop is on the opposite side of the main road M A Roxas.

Looking for famous tourists spots, places to visit and see, relax and unwind in Clark, Pampanga, Philippines? You may want to check out these sites also:

Wedding couples looking for wedding reception venues and beach wedding venues can log on to this Philippines Wedding Venue web site for free information and assistance:

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While in Clark, it might be a good idea to enjoy an evening of wine-and-dine in the fine dining Yats Restaurant and Wine Bar that features an award winning 2700-line wine list. It is located in Mimosa Leisure Estate of Clark Freeport Zone. For more information, visit http://www.YatsRestaurant.com

YATS Leisure Philippines is a developer and operator of clubs, resorts and high-class restaurants and wine shops in Clark Angeles Philippines http://www.YatsLeisure.com

http://www.LondonPubClark.com

If you are traveling to Pampanga, Subic, Angeles City, Clark Freeport, Philippines, you can get assistance to hotel and resort booking by logging on to
http://www.HotelClarkPhilippines.com

http://www.ClarkPhilippines.com